"In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay one invincible summer."
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A Christian's life may be the only Bible some people ever read.
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"The first time someone shows you who they are, believe them" Maya Angelou.
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I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ" Gandhi
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Well, first, I don't always believe catharsis is necessary for self-improvement. There're some situations and some feelings where neglect and distraction is a more appropriate medicine than attention and analysis leading up to catharsis. For example, addiction. A person who's addicted to sex, food, or even the internet would benefit better from just stopping and moving on, rather than analyzing and hoping to uncover some memory that might trigger something, etc, etc.

Second, I don't always believe catharsis is sufficient for self-improvement. A catharsis has to be accompanied by a behavioral plan in order to be effective. Why? Because the intensity of catharsis will wear off eventually and the old thoughts and emotional patterns will creep back in. The person needs some type of heuristic to deal with those when he can't rely on his intense emotions. In other words, you don't always get closure. (You didn't argue that you do, but I'm clarifying.)

Third, I'm not convinced catharsis has to happen with material from the past. Merging with one's pain can be done in the present with the painful feelings one is experiencing right now. Digging into the past can be useful sometimes, but often I think it's unnecessary and sometimes harmful. A person can look at the part of their experience they're currently repressing and make space for it right now, merging together their ego and shadow and creating catharsis.

Well, first, I don't always believe catharsis is necessary for self-improvement. There're some situations and some feelings where neglect and distraction is a more appropriate medicine than attention and analysis leading up to catharsis. For example, addiction. A person who's addicted to sex, food, or even the internet would benefit better from just stopping and moving on, rather than analyzing and hoping to uncover some memory that might trigger something, etc, etc.

Second, I don't always believe catharsis is sufficient for self-improvement. A catharsis has to be accompanied by a behavioral plan in order to be effective. Why? Because the intensity of catharsis will wear off eventually and the old thoughts and emotional patterns will creep back in. The person needs some type of heuristic to deal with those when he can't rely on his intense emotions. In other words, you don't always get closure. (You didn't argue that you do, but I'm clarifying.)

Third, I'm not convinced catharsis has to happen with material from the past. Merging with one's pain can be done in the present with the painful feelings one is experiencing right now. Digging into the past can be useful sometimes, but often I think it's unnecessary and sometimes harmful. A person can look at the part of their experience they're currently repressing and make space for it right now, merging together their ego and shadow and creating catharsis.

Hmm. But if you recognize patterns that could be deeply rooted in bad past experiences, wich lead to negative emotion and action, don't you think it would be easier to avoid behaviour that could be harmful to yourself or others in the future? To stop and analyze the situation, "This is what caused me problems in the past, but now I choose not to go down that road because I'm aware of the consequences.".

Hmm. But if you recognize patterns that could be deeply rooted in bad past experiences, wich lead to negative emotion and action, don't you think it would be easier to avoid behaviour that could be harmful to yourself or others in the future? To stop and analyze the situation, "This is what caused me problems in the past, but now I choose not to go down that road because I'm aware of the consequences.".

It could be useful, but is it necessary, and at what cost? If you can figure out what you're doing wrong RIGHT NOW, why would you have to dig into the past and find the moment you first screwed up?